[Red Leader]

I sent an e-mail to Hal McCoy after the Roberto Alomar trade when I first read that the Sox were going to designate Jimenez for assignment and told him if he talked to Tim Naehring, Jim Bowden or whoever that they should offer a minor league arm to the Sox, who had just lost a bunch of minor league arms in the trade to the Mets, for JImenez.

It happened.

The reasons I wanted the Reds to acquire Jimenez were fairy simple.

1) he's cheap
2) he's talented
3) he plays multiple positions (2B, SS, 3B)
4) he's young, and still improving
5) he can hit lead off
6) on days when Larkin sits, you put Olmedo at SS and Jimenez at 2B and lead off, and put Castro back on the bench. This makes the team stronger, IMO.
7) When Larkin starts, you can give Boone a day off and play Jimenez at 3B, you can give Olmedo a day of and play him at SS. All of which are better options than starting Castro.
8) It gives you flexibility in other deals. If someone wants Felipe or Olmedo, you can now move them without leaving a gaping hole.


For those that say that pitching is our #1 priority and don't understand why we aquired a middle infielder, I say this: There are plenty of teams looking for pitching right now. Pitching is hard to acquire (decent pitchers, that is) because teams are reluctant to trade them. I agree that pitching should be our #1 priority but does that mean that you shouldn't make ANY deals until you get pitching....NO!!! Jimenez was available and fit the Reds needs, a lead off hitter, who can play 2B/SS/3B and is cheap and talented. He wouldn't have cleared waivers, so you have to go get him before someone else does. The Reds did and I am really happy about it. Jim Bowden knows they need pitching, I'm sure he works on getting it everyday. But that doesn't mean that should be the ONLY thing he does. His job is to improve this team, and with this move, I feel that he did, without giving up much in return, IMO. That's a good trade.